Real Madrid reportedly on the brink with Welsh star Gareth Bale

Real Madrid's forward Jese Rodriguez (L) celebrates a goal with Real Madrid's Welsh forward Gareth Bale during the Spanish league football match Real Madrid CF vs RC Celta de Vigo at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on March 5, 2016. / AFP / GERARD JULIEN

A report in Barcelona-based newspaper SPORT has today claimed that "heavyweights of the Madrid dressing room" aren't enjoying Bale's renewed "air of grandeur" stemming from his good performances in recent months.

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"What's more, they have not liked that he is now at the door of president Florentino Perez asking for an improved contract that, according to some of his teammates, doesn't correspond to his performances in recent years," they add.

While it is true that the 27-year-old winger struggled to settle in the Spanish capital after first arriving in 2013, the suggestion that he doesn't deserve a new deal is utter nonsense.

Bale was the club's best player down the stretch last season, repeatedly winning them games as they chased down Barcelona in a tense title race.

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Indeed, the former Spurs man averaged more goals per 90 minutes than Cristiano Ronaldo as he shone under Zinedine Zidane in 2016 and he's continued that great form into the start of this season, with the Portuguese still suffering with injuries.

MirrorFootball has consulted with sources close to Madrid, who have confirmed that the in-form forward is a popular player at Real's Valdebebas training ground.

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SPORT's claim that "a bomb is ready to go off" in the dressing room and that "the detonator is already ticking down" may well have just exploded in their face.